Wheelbarrow.



PATENTED OUT. 11, 1904.

J. RAY.

WHEELBARROW.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 30, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

Patented October 11, 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH RAY, OF MAROA, ILLINOIS.

WHEELBARROW.

SPEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 772,253, dated October 11, 1.904.

Application filed December 30,1903. Serial No. 187,145. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J osnrrr RAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Maroa, in the county of Macon and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Wheelbarrows, of which the following is a specification: Y

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in wheelbarrows; and its object is to provide a device of this character the handles of which can be adjusted so as to per- By providing a wheelbarrow which is re-.

tained in a horizontal position while being pushed less effort is required to force the same over uneven surfaces. Moreover, by providing adjustable handles the wheelbarrow can be suited to the height of the person using the same.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown the preferred form of my invention.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the wheelbarrow. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section therethrough, and Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view.

Referring to the figures by numerals of reference, 1 1 are side bars having downwardly-curved ends 2, in which is journaled the axle 3 of a wheel 4:. The other ends of the side bars have upwardly-curved arms 5, provided with a series of perforations 6, and any perforation in each arm is adapted to receive a locking-pin 7, extending through a handle 8, which is pivotally connected to the side bar 1 at a point between the ends there of, as shown at 9. Standards 10 are bolted or otherwise secured to the side bar 1 adjacent to the pivot 9, and cross-bars 11 are also secured at their ends to the side bars, as shown in Fig. 3. These cross-bars 11 are preferably connected by brace-bars 12, whereby a rigid frame is produced. The body 13 of the wheelbarrow is secured upon the side bars 1 and the cross-bars 11 in any suitable manner.

Itwill be seen that the handles 8 can be readily adjusted to any desired angles in relation to the body 13 by withdrawing the pins 7 and placing them within any of the apertures 6. By arranging the handles in this manner the body of the wheelbarrow can be retained in an approximately horizontal position while the same is being pushed, and the person operating the same can stand in an erect position no matter what his height may be. Moreover, as the body of the wheelbarrow is 'not held at an incline the same can be moved over an uneven or a soft surface much more readily than where downward pressure is exerted in, addition to the usual forward pressure necessary in propelling an ordinary wheelbarrow, the handles-of which extend longitudinally from the body.

In the foregoing description I have shown the preferred form of my invention; but I do not limit myself thereto, as I am aware that modifications may be-made therein without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof, and I therefore reserve the right to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the scope of my invention. Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A wheelbarrow comprising side bars having downwardly extending end portions, curved apertured arms extending upward from the other ends to the side bars, a wheel journaled between said end portions, brace-bars interposed between the side bars and secured thereto, a body, standards depending from the side bars, independently-adjustable handles pivoted to the side bars and extending "across the arms, and means for adjustably securing the handles to the arms.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH RAY. Witnesses:

G. H. MALONE, ANDREW BAUAWMAN. 

